The Effective Statistician - in association with PSI

Interview with Oscar Segurado, MD PhD Key points: Gene Therapy Uniqueness: Differences from traditional drug development Safety & Dosing: Single-dose approach, safety considerations Statisticians' Role: Essential contributions in planning and analysis Guest Background: Oscar’s expertise in academia, med tech, biopharma, Humira development Clinical Development: Phases from trials to commercialization Rare Disease Focus: Hemophilia A, spinal muscular atrophy Challenges & Opportunities: Unique clinical and statistical challenges Future of Medicine: Insights into advancements in gene therapy Oscar’s expertise sheds light on the unique challenges and groundbreaking possibilities in this field, highlighting the critical role that statisticians and data scientists play in advancing these therapies. If you found this episode insightful, I encourage you to listen in full and share it with colleagues, friends, or anyone interested in the future of healthcare. Let’s spread the word on how statistical expertise is driving the next frontier in medicine—tune in, learn, and pass it on!

Avery McIntosh, a statistician at Pfizer specializing in gene therapy, and Oleksandr Sverdlov from Novartis, focusing on neuroscience, share their insights into the innovative world of gene therapy. They discuss the evolution and breakthroughs in the field, like CRISPR technology, while addressing the ethical challenges of clinical trials. Their experiences highlight the important role statisticians play in navigating regulatory demands and advancing treatment solutions. Listeners will appreciate the blend of technical expertise and compelling storytelling.

In this engaging discussion, Carrie Li, a physician and statistician with over 13 years in the pharmaceutical sector, shares her insights on Clinical Development Plans (CDPs). She highlights the importance of early decision-making and cross-functional collaboration among clinical, commercial, and regulatory teams. Carrie elaborates on the differences between big pharma and startups, adaptive design strategies, and regulatory engagement with the FDA and EMA. Listeners will gain practical tips on balancing scientific rigor with business goals to advance drug development.

Pietro Mascheroni, a physicist at Beringer Ingelheim specializing in machine learning and AI, dives into the transformative power of large language models (LLMs) in pharmaceutical research. He discusses their practical applications like document retrieval and data exploration. Pietro emphasizes the necessity of human oversight to ensure accuracy, while explaining how LLMs enhance team communication and collaboration. He highlights the challenges of validating AI models and the evolving capabilities of these technologies, reinforcing their potential to streamline workflows.

Interview with Swarna Khare Key points: Expanding Careers: Statisticians moving beyond traditional statistics roles. Transferable Skills: Data interpretation, strategic thinking, communication. Career Transition: Swarna’s journey from statistician to strategic roles. Broader Impact: Using statistical skills in non-technical positions. Practical Advice: How statisticians can leverage their expertise. Opportunities: New career paths and roles outside statistics. Actionable Insights: Steps for statisticians to broaden their horizons. In this episode, Swarna’s journey shows how statisticians can successfully move beyond the traditional boundaries of their roles and make a broader impact in various industries. If you're looking to take your skills to the next level and explore new career opportunities, this episode is full of valuable insights and practical advice.

Interview with Taina Pereenniemi Key points: Introduction to Notion Taina’s Journey Key Features of Notion Collaboration & Integration Productivity Benefits Generative AI Replacing Other Tools Getting Started with Notion Paid Features Conference Workshop Taina shares invaluable tips on getting started with Notion and highlights its potential to replace multiple tools while simplifying your personal and professional life. Don’t miss out—tune in to the episode now and discover how you can start using Notion effectively. And if you found this episode helpful, be sure to share it with your colleagues and friends who could benefit from optimizing their productivity!

Interview with Daniel Sabanés Bové Key points: Statisticians and software engineering: Learning from software engineering practices to improve statistical work. Daniel Sabanés Bové career path: Transition from biostatistician at Roche to data scientist at Google, and return to healthcare. Software engineering principles: Importance of clean coding, automation, and collaborative development. Coding in the pharma industry: How tech practices can enhance pharmaceutical statistical work. Open-source tools: Utilizing tools like Git and automation workflows to improve efficiency. Automation: Streamlining repetitive tasks to focus on value-adding work. RCONIS: Daniel’s new consulting venture combining statistics and software engineering. Daniel shows how software engineering principles can transform the way statisticians work, offering practical tips to improve coding skills and workflow efficiency. If you're looking to boost your productivity, adopt better coding habits, or learn more about the intersection of tech and pharma, this conversation is full of valuable insights. Listen to the full episode now, and if you find it helpful, share it with your friends and colleagues who can benefit from these ideas. Let’s work together to improve and innovate!

Interview with Chantelle Cornett Key points: Predictive Models: Forecast future outcomes based on historical data. Model Building: Process of analyzing data, training, and testing models. Validation: Ensures model reliability and accuracy. Healthcare Applications: Use in survival rates, treatment responses. Technical Discussion: Pruning models, interpretability, data considerations. Tools: Use of R, Python, SAS for building predictive models. Collaboration: Importance of interdisciplinary work, combining traditional statistics with AI/ML techniques. Chantelle shares valuable insights into building, testing, and validating these models, showing just how powerful and essential they are. If you found this discussion insightful, listen to the full episode to dive deeper into the technical details and practical applications of predictive modeling. And if you know others who would benefit from this knowledge, share the episode with them. Let’s spread these valuable insights together!

Interview with Paolo Eusebi Key Points: AI in Daily Work GitHub Copilot Code Suggestions Learning Tool R Studio Integration Productivity Boost Data Privacy Future of AI As AI continues to revolutionize the way we work, tools like GitHub Copilot offer incredible opportunities to enhance productivity, simplify complex tasks, and accelerate learning. In this episode, Paolo and I dive into the practical applications of Copilot in our day-to-day work, sharing insights that can benefit statisticians and data scientists alike. Don’t miss out on this valuable discussion! Tune in to the episode now, and if you find it helpful, be sure to share it with your friends and colleagues who could also benefit from AI tools like Copilot. Let's spread the knowledge and make work easier for everyone! P.S. Don’t miss out on our upcoming Effective Statistician Online Conference: Fall 2024 – Transforming Healthcare! Join us this November for an exciting opportunity to unlock the future of medical data with a special focus on RCT vs RWE, AI, and EU HTA. Whether you're looking for free access to keynotes and panel discussions or want to dive deeper with premium workshops on topics like Machine Learning, Data Visualization, and Personal Productivity—there’s something for everyone. Secure your spot now and connect with over 800 professionals from the healthcare industry! Mark your calendars: Nov 7-8 & Nov 11-12, 2024. Get more details here and register now!

Friday Episodes with Alexander Schacht Key Points: Audience focus Practice Setup mastery Slides Engage with slides Stand up Visibility Vocal variety Breathing Gestures Self-assessment Learn how to transform your presentation skills and approach public speaking with confidence and ease. By focusing on your audience, practicing regularly, mastering your setup, and using your voice and gestures effectively, you deliver presentations like a pro. Ready to take your skills to the next level? Listen now to get all the insights and tips! If you find this helpful, share this episode with your friends and colleagues who can also benefit from these strategies. Let’s all become better, more effective presenters together! Last call for abstract submissions! You can participate in the Fall Conference 2024 for free by submitting an abstract for an 18-minute presentation or a poster. It’s a great chance to present and reuse content relevant to our community of statisticians, data scientists, and programmers in healthcare. **📅 Deadline for abstracts: September 15 **📧 Submit to: conference@theeffectivestatistician.com And if presenting isn’t for you, don’t miss out—register now to lock in your early bird price!